The Latest: Trump to approve release of GOP memo

White House officials say President Donald Trump will clear the way for the publication of a controversial GOP-authored memo, despite objections from the FBI.

The memo was prepared by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee and is said to allege misconduct by the FBI in its investigation of potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Trump’s own Justice Department and Democrats furiously lobbied Trump to stop the release, saying it could harm national security and mislead the public.

A White House official said Congress would likely be informed of the decision Friday, adding Trump was “ok” with the release. A second White House official said Trump was likely to declassify the congressional memo but that the precise method for making it public was still being finalized.

The officials were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

-By Zeke Miller

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2:50 p.m.

The FBI Agents Association says it appreciates FBI Director Christopher Wray “standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of the FBI as we work together to protect our country from criminal and national security threats.”

Wray and the FBI have expressed concern about the potential release of a Republican memo on the Russia investigation that they say is inaccurate and has important omissions.

Wray has spoken privately to the White House about his concerns, and the FBI laid them out Wednesday in an unusual written statement.

In a statement Thursday, the agents association says the FBI remains “focused on our important work to protect the country from terrorists and criminals.” The association says FBI agents take an oath both to the country and to the Constitution.

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2:10 p.m.

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says he’s proud of FBI Director Christopher Wray for standing up for his agents and voicing his objections to President Donald Trump about the release of a GOP-authored classified memo.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California says Wray may not want his praise. But Schiff says “those kinds of things give me hope.”

The lawmaker made the comments in a speech at the University of Pennsylvania.

Schiff accuses committee Republicans, led by chairman Devin Nunes, of “selectively” declassifying certain pieces of information to “support a narrative favorable to the president.”

Trump’s expected to approve the release of the memo as early as later Thursday.

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